From beer and dairy to chips and chocolate - Simon Eyles, Betty's MD shares his incredible journey Artwork

Coach Class

My name is Dom Burch, I am a business coach and mentor. On this podcast I speak to fellow coaches about their field of expertise, and inspirational leaders about what makes them tick, how they motivate themselves and others, and what it means to be authentic.

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Coach Class

From beer and dairy to chips and chocolate - Simon Eyles, Betty's MD shares his incredible journey

June 07, 2024 • Dom Burch • Season 2 • Episode 21

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In this episode of Coach Class, I catch up with Simon Eyles, Managing Director of Betty's. We discuss Simon’s professional journey, leadership insights, and his transition from various food industries to his current role.

Simon reflects on the overwhelming scale and energy when he joined Asda compared to his previous roles, emphasising how each position, from beer and dairy to chips and chocolate, followed his passion for food.

He credits many mentors for shaping his leadership style, highlighting their exceptional listening skills and supportive nature. Key figures who invested time in understanding and developing his potential.

Simon underscores the importance of resilience and learning from failures, sharing experiences with unsuccessful TV ads and product launches. He emphasises that senior roles involve asking good questions rather than having all the answers. This perspective aligns with his belief in the value of mistakes as learning opportunities.

Discussing his journey into formalising his coaching skills, Simon describes a transformative 12-month course that enhanced his listening and engagement abilities. He learned to be fully present in conversations, appreciating the power of silence and reflective questioning.

Simon also highlights the significance of regular team reflections on behaviour, performance, and trust. He believes that focusing on relationships and self-awareness within teams leads to exceptional results.

Although not actively seeking clients at the moment, Simon enjoys coaching and envisions it playing a larger role in his future, emphasising its personal satisfaction and developmental impact.

Our conversation provides valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and the importance of continuous personal and professional growth.

If you enjoy listening to this podcast why not check out some of the others in season 1 & 2. Or perhaps you fancy taking part yourself? If so why not get in touch. You can find me via LinkedIn or Twitter